like

likepreposition

American /laɪk/ British /laɪk/

Like shows that one thing is similar to another, or introduces examples of a kind.

  1. similar tosimilar to someone or something, or in the same way as someone or something

    Collocations

    verb + preposition look like, sound like, feel like, taste like, act like

    Antonyms unlike

    Compare as (as names someone's actual role or job; like only compares to it: he works as a doctor (he is one) against he works like a doctor (he behaves similarly)); as

  2. for exampleused before one or more examples of a kind of person or thing

    • Games like chess and cards need patience.
    • Cities like Tokyo and London are always busy.
    • I enjoy strong cheese, like Parmesan.

    Synonyms such as

    Compare such as

Usage

In informal speech, like is also used before a clause, in place of as if or as though: he acts like he owns the place. This use is common in speech but avoided in careful writing.

Common mistakes

He works like a doctor at the clinic. He works as a doctor at the clinic.
Like only says something resembles a role, without being it; as names the actual role.
She looks like tired today. She looks tired today.
Like is followed by a noun or pronoun, not directly by an adjective; drop like before an adjective.

See also like